After completing their educations at the ETH, Swiss architects Lorenzo Giuliani and Christian Hönger founded a joint office in Zürich, which today employs 20. The recipients of a number of competition prizes, they have made a name for themselves in Switzerland’s architectural scene. A key project is the Fachhochschule Sihlhof (Sihlhof Polytechnic) in Zürich (2000-03), which received a number of architecture prizes, and achieved renown far beyond Switzerland’s borders. Currently in planning or under construction are a number of major projects, among them the Fachhochschul-zentrum (Polytechnic Center) in St. Gallen (2003-12), the vonRoll Academic Center at the Uni Bern and PH Bern (2005-10), and a residence for seniors in a suburb of Zürich (2007-11).
Back in summer semester 2006, the Institute for the History and Theory of Architecture (gta) of the Department of Architecture at the ETH Zürich mounted an exhibition on the works of giuliani.hönger. The Swiss Embassy and Presence Switzerland then invited the gta Institute to organize a successor to this exhibition in the series “Baukunst im Dialog / Architecture in Dialogue” in collaboration with the Architecture Forum Aedes am Pfefferberg.
The exhibition SCHNITTWERK, which features a selection of current projects by this architecture office, raises the question: How might urbanistically viable architecture arise, architecture which moreover contributes to the formation of identity? Their consistent attempts to come to terms with the relationship between building and environment, space and spatial program, construction and expression, as well as client and architect, are visualized on the basis of selected projects. Illustrated through photographic silhouettes, sectional models, and layered elevations, are the architectonic interests in polysemy, spatial figures, and physicality pursued by giuliani.hönger. On display alongside the already completed Fachhochschule Sihlhof are a number of projects currently in planning or under construction: the above-mentioned Hochschulzentrum vonRoll with the lecture auditorium (2005–2010), the Fachhochschulzentrum in St. Gallen, as well as the Hilti Innovation Center in Schaan (2008-2013). Under the heading Relationship, clients and users share their perspectives on these projects and buildings.
Appearing with the exhibition is the publication giuliani.hönger SCHNITTWERK with contributions by Lorenzo Giuliani, Christian Hönger, Martin Tschanz, and photographs by Walter Mair, Karin Gauch, and Fabien Schwartz, published by gta Verlag, Zürich 2010; ISBN 978-3-85676-279-7, € 22.
This exhibition is being organized by the gta Institute at the ETH Zürich in collaboration with the Swiss Embassy in Berlin. “Baukunst im Dialog / Architecture in Dialogue” is an event series of the Swiss Embassy in Germany dealing with the sustainable design of the human environment. It is being organized in collaboration with the ETH Zürich, the EPF Lausanne, the USI Mendrisio, the associations BSA and SIA, and the Swiss Universities of Applied Science.
Lorenzo Giuliani (1962) and Christian Hönger (1959) completed their studies at the ETH Zürich in 1987. In 1991, they founded the office giuliani.hönger. They are active as consultants/guest critics and work as instructors at the ZHAW in Winterthur as well as at the HSLU in Lucerne.
Buildings in planning
2008 – 2013 The Innovation Center of Hilti AG, Schaan
2007 – 2011 The Bubenholz Senior Residence, Opfikon
2006 – 2010 Residential and office vertical extension superstructure on Zentralstrasse, Dietikon
2005 – 2010 Campus, VonRoll University, conversion of the switch building hall, Bern
2003 – 2012 Polytechnic Center, Bahnhof Nord, St.Gallen
Completed projects
2005 – 2006 New administration building and warehouse, Cologne
2004 – 2007 Conversion of the Reppischtal Barracks, Birmensdorf
2004 – 2005 Remodeling of the Gehring-Heijdemann residence, Davos
2003 – 2004 Remodeling of Clipper, Zürich
2002 – 2005 Grafstal Gymnasium, Lindau
2003 Remodeling, Seefeldstrasse 285, Zürich
2002 – 2005 Extension, Blatten Upper School Center, Männedorf
2002 – 2003 Remodeling, reception area, SKV Central Secretariat, Zürich
2001 – 2004 Vertical residential extension in Kappenbühl, Zürich-Höngg
2001 – 2003 Fachhochschule Sihlhof, Zürich
2000 – 2001 Remodeling, parish hall, Amriswil
1999 – 2000 Remodeling, Museum Kulturama, Zürich
1999 – 2000 Gehring summer residence, Quinten
1995 – 1997 Polytechnic for Tourism, Samedan
1994 – 1996 Müller multifamily dwelling, Unterägeri
1996 Award for Good Building from the Canton of Zug
1993 – 1996 Kupper multifamily dwelling, Erlenbach
1992 – 1993 Remodeling, building no. 220, Poschiavo
Competitions (selection)
2008 Revaluation and new design, Bahnhofplatz St. Gallen (public competition, 1st prize)
2008 Test planning, Escher Wyss – Gebiet / Baufeld H
2007 Innovation Center, Hilti AG, Schaan (invited competition, 1st prize)
2007 Bubenholz Senior Center, Opfikon (invited competition, 1st prize)
2006 Test planning, Lagerplatz area, Winterthur
2006 Vertical residential and commercial development, Zentralstrasse, Dietikon (1st prize)
2004 Campus, VonRoll University, Bern (public competition, 1st prize)
2003 Fachhochschulzentrum St.Gallen (public competition, 1st prize)
2002 Grafstal School Gymnasium, Lindau (competition after pre-qualification, 1st prize)
2002 Strickhof University Library, Zürich-Irchel (public competition, 1st prize)
2001 School expansion Männedorf Upper School (public competition, 1st prize)
2000 Residential development of the Migros Pension Fund in Höngg (1st prize)
2000 Fachhochschule Sihlhof, Zürich (invited competition, 1st prize)
1999 Provisional bus gates and lounges, Kloten Airport (overall performance competition)
1999 Remodeling, parish hall in Amriswil (student commission, 1st prize)
1999 Städtebauliche Studie Sulzer Areal, Oberwinterthur (student commission)
1996 “Signal” Ice Sports Center, St. Moritz (overall performance competition, 1st prize )
1994 Polytechnic for Tourism in Samedan (public competition, 1st prize)
